URI Rams Are Right Where They Want To Be, Playing For The A-10 Title

This is how it was supposed to be, back in November when the Rhode Island Rams were ranked nationally and considered a virtual lock for the NCAA Tournament. This is how it was supposed to be come the second weekend in March, the Rams playing for the Atlantic-10 Conference Championship.

Having survived a few bumps along the way, fourth-seeded URI (23-9) will play second-seeded Virginia Commonwealth (26-7) at 12:30 Sunday for the A-10 title. The Rhody Rams buried ninth-seeded Davidson, 84-60, in the first semifinal Saturday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. The VCU Rams needed overtime to defeat third-seeded Richmond, 87-77, in the second semifinal.

The winner Sunday will receive the A-10’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The loser will have to wait until the selection show Sunday at 5:30 p.m. on CBS to learn its fate.

This is URI’s first A-10 final appearance since 2007. The Rams hope to win their first title since 1999, when Lamar Odom’s last-second shot beat Temple, and they have a good chance. They were most impressive in beating Davidson for the third time this season. They sank 9 of their 12 three-point shots in the first half, when E.C. Matthews connected on all four of his three-point attempts and scored 14 of his game-high 19 points.

Also, URI has won seven in a row and 11 of 13 since an 11-point loss at Richmond on Jan. 25. The Rams beat VCU by 10 points at home on Feb. 25.

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I really, really hope the University of Rhode Island beats Davidson in the Atlantic 10 semifinals Saturday afternoon in Pittsburgh and then defeats Virginia Commonwealth or Richmond on Sunday for the championship.

There, I’ve said it. After close to 40 years of no cheering in the press box while I was a newspaper guy, I can take sides now that I am a blogger.